Objective:To investigate the relationship between the Palatopharyngeal Arch Staging System（PASS） and the severity of Obstructive Sleep Apnea（OSA）, as well as the patterns of airway collapse, while further assessing its clinical applicability. Methods:A total of 98 patients diagnosed with OSA at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Shenzhen University Affiliated Shenzhen Hospital, were recruited for this study. Data collected included basic demographic information, oropharyngeal laryngoscopy videos, results from awake laryngoscopy Muller tests, and indicators from sleep respiratory monitoring. The distribution of each PASS stage among patients with varying severities of OSA was compared. Additionally, both objective and subjective sleep indicators along with occurrences of airway collapse in OSA patients across different PASS stages were analyzed. Results:In total, 98 patients participated in this study. Statistically significant differences were observed in neck circumference, weight, Body Mass Index（BMI）, tongue position, and PASS stage when comparing mild-to-moderate OSA patients to those with severe OSA（P<0.05）. Furthermore, there were statistically significant variations in Apnea-Hypopnea Index（AHI）, minimum blood oxygen saturation levels, average blood oxygen saturation levels, oxygen desaturation index values, and total oxygen desaturation indices among OSA patients categorized by different PASS stages. Multiple comparisons revealed statistically significant differences in AHI as well as minimum and average blood oxygen saturation levels between patients at PASS 1 versus those at PASS 3（P<0.05）. Additionally, notable differences regarding oropharyngeal collapse rates among OSA patients across various PASS stages were identified; specifically between those at PASS stage 1 and those at PASS stage 3. Conclusion:The proportion of PASS stages for OSA varies across different severity levels. The severity of OSA and the degree of airway collapse in patients with varying PASS stages also exhibit significant differences. Patients classified as PASS 3 demonstrate a more severe form of OSA compared to those at PASS 1, with stage 3 being more susceptible to oropharyngeal collapse than its stage 1 counterpart. This assessment system is anticipated to address the current limitations in evaluating the lateral pharyngeal wall within the oropharynx.
Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/pathology* ; Male ; Severity of Illness Index ; Female ; Middle Aged ; Polysomnography ; Adult ; Pharynx/physiopathology* ; Aged

Trauma, congenital malformation and aging process can be a cause of the deviation of laryngeal prominence in the thyroid cartilage. Among these, the senility is the most common cause. Usually, ossification in the thyroid cartilage has occurred symmetrically, but the asymmetrical event leads to the shift of laryngeal prominence. Also, such deformity can provoke protrusion of false vocal fold. A 75-year-old man with hoarseness and globus sense in throat visited our clinic. Five years ago, he experienced a blunt trauma on left midline neck and had a concave deformity in the left thyroid cartilage lamina. Laryngoscopic findings revealed a marked protrusion in the left false vocal fold. We performed the laryngeal microsurgery to discriminate the tumorous condition. The pathology revealed non-pathologic mucosa. We report a unique and didactic case with a brief literature review.
Aged ; Aging ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Microsurgery ; Mucous Membrane ; Neck ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Thyroid Cartilage ; Thyroid Gland ; Vocal Cords

OBJECTIVES: To retrospectively evaluate the patients who underwent nasopharyngeal biopsy with imaging and biopsy results, who have or don’t have symptoms for nasopharyngeal pathology and to determine the ratio of the nasopharyngeal cancer cases and other pathologic conditions. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 983 patients who underwent endoscopic nasopharyngeal biopsy for symptomatic nasopharyngeal lesions were included. All pathological results, benign or malign was recorded and classified due to the patients’ presenting symptoms such as symptomatic for nasopharyngeal pathology or asymptomatic. Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reports were also recorded separately as group A for malignancy or group B for not malignancy. RESULTS: Forty-five (4.6%) of 983 biopsies were malignant. In this group, there is no statistically significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic group. For malignant pathologies, the sensitivity of MRI was found 88.2% and CT was 61.5%. CONCLUSION: For early diagnosis of nasopharyngeal cancer, all patients admitted to Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) referral clinics should be examined endoscopically irrespective of their complaints and suspicious cases should be investigated by imaging especially by MRI. If MRI report clearly indicates Thornwaldt cyst or reactive lymphoid hyperplasia and this result is compatible with endoscopic findings, biopsy may not be necessary. Apart from these cases, all suspected lesions should be biopsied.
Adult* ; Biopsy* ; Ear ; Early Diagnosis ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; Nasopharynx* ; Nose ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Pseudolymphoma ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis is one of the most common otorhinolaryngologic emergencies representing more than 12% of conditions managed at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Emergency Consulting Room of our Otorhinolaryngologic Unit each year. The elevated frequency of this pathology makes it necessary to adopt the most effective and least expensive therapeutic strategy available. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, costs and morbidity of nasal packing (NP), which is the mainstay of treatment for anterior epistaxis in our ENT Emergency Consulting Room versus submucosal infiltrations of lauromacrogol (LA). METHODS: A retrospective study was designed from August 2012 to April 2013 involving 53 patients suffering from anterior epistaxis. Anterior NP was used in 27 patients versus 26 patients undergoing 27 procedures performed with submucosal infiltrations of LA (or polidocanol). Outcomes for each treatment were evaluated. Patients in group 1 were treated with LA 400 injection next to the bleeding point: 0.5- to 1-mL single or multiple infiltrations with a 27-gauge needle. The whitening of the nasal mucosa around the bleeding point during infiltration was considered a marker of correct procedure in order to achieve the best results. Bilateral treatment was also performed at the same time. Patients in group 2 were treated with standard NP. RESULTS: Bleeding recurrence was higher in the NP group even if it was not statistically significant (P=0.2935). However, the LA infiltrations were better tolerated with lower morbidity and costs as compared to NP. No complications were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: LA infiltrations were shown to be a viable alternative in anterior epistaxis treatment. They are safe, easy to use with good efficacy and have a low cost.
Ear ; Emergencies ; Epistaxis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Nasal Mucosa ; Needles ; Nose ; Pathology ; Pharynx ; Polyethylene Glycols ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclerotherapy*

OBJECTIVETo analyze the effective treatment of deep neck infection in children.

METHODSThirty-three cases of deep neck infection treated from September 2005 to May 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. To observe the effect of antibiotics and surgical drainage.

RESULTSAll cases were cured, including one case who was complicated with carotid artery rupture and was timely cured by vascular interventional therapy, and the cure rate was 100%.

CONCLUSIONCombined application of broad-spectrum antibiotics and effective surgical drainage are key to treat deep neck infection in children. The emergence of repeated small amount of bleeding in the nose and throat in children is an indicator for big neck vessel rupture and interventional vascular therapy may be considered.

Anti-Bacterial Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carotid Artery Diseases ; complications ; Child ; Drainage ; Hemorrhage ; complications ; Humans ; Neck ; microbiology ; pathology ; Nose ; Pharynx ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Outcome

One child was hospitalized because of repeated cough and sputum. The biopsy diagnosis in local hospital was cystic lymphangioma in retropharyngeal space. We carried out transoral incision and drainage by catheter under general anesthesia. Put into the surgical cavity a suction drainage tube, and injected 5 mg dexamethasone and 8mg Bleomycin. He had nasogastric liquid diet after operation. We removed the suction drainage tube two weeks later. No recurrence was found following up over two years.
Child ; Humans ; Lymphangioma, Cystic ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Pharynx ; pathology ; surgery

This study aimed to use computer simulation to describe the fluid dynamic characteristics in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and to evaluate the difference between during quiet respiration and the Muller maneuver (MM). Seven patients with OSAS were involved to perform computed tomographic (CT) scanning during quiet respiration and the MM. CT data in DICOM format were transformed into an anatomically three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of the upper airway. The velocity magnitude, relative pressure, and flow distribution were obtained. Numerical simulation of airflow was performed to discuss how the MM affected airflow in the upper airway. To measure the discrepancy, the SPSS19.0 software package was utilized for statistic analysis. The results showed that the shape of the upper airway became narrower, and the pressure decreased during the MM. The minimal cross-sectional area (MCSA) of velopharynx was significantly decreased (P<0.05) and the airflow velocity in MCSAs of velopharynx and glossopharynx significantly accelerated (P<0.05) during the MM. This study demonstrated the possibility of CFD model combined with the MM for understanding pharyngeal aerodynamics in the pathophysiology of OSAS.
Adult ; Computer Simulation ; Humans ; Hydrodynamics ; Middle Aged ; Models, Anatomic ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Pilot Projects ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; physiopathology ; Software ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Foreign Bodies ; pathology ; Humans ; Neck ; pathology ; Pharynx ; pathology

The male patient was 72 years old with 10-years hoarseness. Electronic laryngoscopy showed a great pink lobulated lesion at the left back of soft palate and lateral pharyngeal wall, close to the choanal region. Neck CT revealed irregular signal intensities of soft tissue at the left wall of nasopharynx, side wall and posterior wall of oropharynx and hypopharynx, bilateral submandibular and glottic region. The patient underwent operation treatment. Histopathology showed the mass was composed of identical mature rhabdomyoma cells, with scarce interstitial substance. The tumor cells was round, oval or polygonal with eosinophilic cytoplasmic granules, longitudinal grain or grain was occasionally found. Some tumor cells arranged in disorder with match structure. Pathological diagnosis was rhabdomyoma.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Rhabdomyoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Pharyngeal foreign body is a common disease. The diagnosis and treatment are easy. However, in a few cases, pharyngeal foreign bodies migrated to other part of body, which often causing missed diagnosis or misdiagnose to delaythe treatment, and even lead to fatal complications. Here we present a case report of a 52-year-old female patient.who was found to have cervical mass 20 days before. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography showd a foreign body and foreign body granuloma on the left side of the neck. To look back on the history, the patient swallowed a fish bone in mistake one month ago.
Animals ; Contrast Media ; Deglutition ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; diagnosis ; Granuloma ; diagnosis ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; pathology ; Pharynx ; pathology ; Seafood ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed